Op-Ed: Muslim Brotherhood completes Egyptian takeover

This month, attacks on Egyptian Christians increased, terrorism groups attempt to form Sinai base, the Sinai attacks are linked with military reshuffling, and Morsi's replacement of Egyptian generals completed the Muslim Brotherhood’s Egyptian takeover.

A senior Egyptian Coptic bishop said recently that attacks on Christians are on the rise and criticized the inclusion of only one Copt in Islamist President Mohamed Morsi’s government. “The general climate is turning against Christians,” said Bishop Morcos. “Assaults on Christians have increased. It’s not just a matter of having one ministry,” according to Pakistan Today news.

International terrorist groups with roots in Libya, Sudan and Iraq are working to take over the Sinai Peninsula, according to a report from the Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center. Efforts to turn the region into a major launching point for attacks are being encouraged by Al-Qaeda head Ayman al-Zawahiri, it stated, according to Israel National News.

The Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi’s recent controversial decision to reshuffle military leaders has been linked to the recent terrorist attacks which killed few border soldiers in the Sinai Peninsula, according to ALARABIYA news.

Egypt's budding democracy moved closer to political maturation when President Mohamed Morsi suddenly forced several senior generals to retire from the military council that has ruled the country since the fall of former President Hosni Mubarak's regime last year. Recently, Mr. Morsi sacked his defense minister, army chief of staff and the chiefs of the navy, the air force, and the air defense forces, all of whom were closely associated with the Mubarak regime. By replacing them with his selected appointees, Mr. Morsi has boldly reasserted the principle of civilian control over Egypt’s military and thwarted the generals' drive to hang onto power in the post-Mubarak era, according to the Baltimore Sun.

Analysis

The Egyptian military and the governing Muslim Brotherhood have continued their "cold war" struggle for control of the Egypt. The military constitution deprived several powers to Egypt’s new president before he came into office, while the Muslim Brotherhood members maintain their resentment against Egypt’s generals. However, a significant population element believes the military is a necessary means for justifying the Muslim government’s power when securing an independent court system and protecting the various non-Islamic parties’ liberty and groups’ freedom. Seeing Morsi's unwillingness to bring Copts into his administration, the Egyptians who support a strong military influence in the government may have a good argument.

The recent terrorist attacks have given the Muslim Brotherhood a reason to fire several ruling generals, including Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, former defense minister. Tantawi held a top position in the Mubarak regime, while he protected people participating in the revolution and he did not condone violence against civilians. However, by firing him, Mursi has given the Muslim Brotherhood members significant power to place new people through their selection into powerful positions previously held by men under Mubarrak’s regime. Changing Egypt’s military leadership has given the Morsi government more leverage when it brings in fresh morale, youthful energy, and new ideas for fighting the terrorist groups entrenched in the Sinai and persecuting Christian groups in Egypt.

This opinion article was written by an independent writer. The opinions and views expressed herein are those of the author and are not necessarily intended to reflect those of DigitalJournal.com